Been there and out of it and very proud of it. And the basis of me saying this is very simple, IT IS A VERY UNIQUE SCHOOL THAT IS AS GOOD OR AS BAD AS THE STUDENT IS. In my opinion GO there IF you are a good student. THE PLACE to go if you are a self motivated great student. Avoid it if you are the laid back, expect to be fed kind. The reasons are simple, the school is so flexible and student centered that a a lot is left to the student to figure/work out what he or she wants to do. And then they will facilitate it to the best they could. One of the precious question asked very often to students is "what do you want?" This always draws a stunned expression from the many who expected to be spoon fed in school. But for those self motivated kind, this is god sent! How often do you get that in school! Instead of laboring through all those useless phony 'exercises' that you could have picked up yourself through books, you get to do things that mattered to YOU -- the artist, your creations. Agreed that many of their lecturers are not very good at teaching. Even those with huge credentials may still suck at teaching. But hey, they suck because they are not some text book academic teaching full time without having done much themselves after school except reading and theorizing what others have done. But many-a-times you get to learn the things that really mattered IF YOU ASK! These guys are a reservior of real world knowledge! That is really what matters. Who needs a guy there just to read out what is already in the books? Even in cases whereby a lecturer from a studio sucks, one can still draw an enormous amount of information out from them of the industry. I had the most fruitful time of my study life in the Academy of Art. Had the opportunity of working under 3 great advisors -- John Dobson (super lecturer in AAC), Ed Hooks (author of Acting for Animators), Jean Detheux (former vice dean of NY Studio of Painting, drawing and sculpturing). 3! In what school would you have the opportunity to study under 3 great advisors? One is very likely to be stuck with just one (among the few in the faculty!) who may or may not suit your quest. There is really so much good things I can say about AAC. But it all boils down to what I had said before, it is only as good as the student is. tien t...@nutsidea.net
My score: 10.

tien, you're living in a dream. stop trying to justify the poor quality of education/graduates from the academy of art. sure, there are a few at the school who were suckered into the school by their jazzy late-night infomercial-like tactics and embarassing celebrity endorsement (ugh!). the teachers are underpaid, and it shows in the quality of teaching. there are a couple of good teachers who are there for the sake of enjoying teaching, but they're few and far between. the aau will milk you out of thousdands, raising tuition all the time. they're also adding to the curriculum, making you take additional required classes... *cha-ching*. they're begining to censor students. ...although they do through great parties in the dorms all the time, with the school's private party planner j! i can't believe i've tarnished my education history with 2.5 of years of the academy behind me. *sigh* ... avoid at all costs.
My score: 1.

Went here, am successful because of it, pick the teachers brains and don't be lazy and you'll learn alot. You'll learn more hands on filmmaking here than at any school if you put effort into it, I saw tuition as equipment rental fee's. Sure the teachers are part time, sure the first semester sucks, nowhere is perfect, but the teachers are as good as you want them to be, and your time can be wasted at the school if you waste it yourself.

my score: 9/10

I considered this school a while back but for what it offered the benefits/tuition weren't good enough for me. I have to agree with you bitter one "If we banned all forms of constructive criticism, there would be no hope for improvement in society whatsoever." this is so true.